Abstract: An article pickup system includes a pickup vehicle having collector assemblies extending in a side by side configuration and engaging articles on the ground. The collector assemblies generally include a rotating drum with flexible fingers having widened ends extending outward there from. A separator assembly includes sprocket type devices to remove the collected articles from the collector assemblies. In one embodiment, the collector assemblies pivot independently from one another and the separator assemblies are mounted on a linkage to maintain spacing and move upward and downward with the collector assemblies. The collector assembly includes a series of conveyors for transporting the collected fruit. The collector assemblies may be utilized with a sweeper device having generally horizontally extending arms that engage fruit on the ground and move it toward the collector assemblies with the arms raising up to release the fruit in the desired location in the path of the collector assemblies.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: An article pickup system includes a pickup vehicle having collector assemblies extending in a side by side configuration and engaging articles on the ground. The collector assemblies generally include a rotating drum with flexible fingers having widened ends extending outward there from. A separator assembly includes sprocket type devices to remove the collected articles from the collector assemblies. In one embodiment, the collector assemblies pivot independently from one another and the separator assemblies are mounted on a linkage to maintain spacing and move upward and downward with the collector assemblies. The collector assembly includes a series of conveyors for transporting the collected fruit. The collector assemblies may be utilized with a sweeper device having generally horizontally extending arms that engage fruit on the ground and move it toward the collector assemblies with the arms raising up to release the fruit in the desired location in the path of the collector assemblies.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: An article pickup system includes rotating collector assemblies with radially, outward extending pickup members. The pickup members are spaced to engage and retain articles as the collector assembly advances. Separator chains extend intermediate the pickup members and loosen articles from the pickup members. The chains direct the articles to a conveyor system that transports the articles to a container. The speed and spacing of the chains and the spacing length and resiliency of the pickup members may be varied and may be different between the front and rear assemblies so that efficiencies are improved. The collector assemblies also include left and right hingedly connected portions so that the contact with the ground and the articles on the ground is increased.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: A mechanized agriculture management apparatus includes a chassis supporting a first manually independently operable boom and a second manually independently operable boom. The booms extend from either side of the chassis and support interchangeable accessories. The accessories may be dedicated to perform various growth control operations such as shoot thinning, fruit thinning, vertical impacting, lateral impacting, hedging, trunk cleaning, shoot positioning, deleafing, pruning and/or wire lifting, as well as other operations and are interchangeable so that one mechanized apparatus may be utilized for the various operations.

Abstract: A shaker device for use on a harvester to remove and gather produce from a plant. The shaker device is configured to be mounted adjacent to a conveyor assembly of a harvester. The shaker device is arranged and configured to contact and engage the lowermost branches of an untrimmed tree or plant to remove produce from the lowermost branches of the untrimmed tree or plant.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a seal between a first object and a second object is disclosed. The device comprises a retractable arm mounted to and extending from the first object towards the second object. The device also comprises a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm. The sealing arrangement includes a sealing member and a sensor configured to engage the second object and provide input to the retractable arm so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the distal end of the retractable arm and the second object. As a result, a seal is formed and maintained between the first object and the second object. In one particular embodiment, the disclosure relates to a harvester for gathering product from one or more plants. The harvester comprises a drive mechanism, a retractable conveyor mounted to and extending from the drive mechanism towards the plant, and a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a seal between a first object and a second object is disclosed. The device comprises a retractable arm mounted to and extending from the first object towards the second object. The device also comprises a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm. The sealing arrangement includes a sealing member and a sensor configured to engage the second object and provide input to the retractable arm so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the distal end of the retractable arm and the second object. As a result, a seal is formed and maintained between the first object and the second object. In one particular embodiment, the disclosure relates to a harvester for gathering product from one or more plants. The harvester comprises a drive mechanism, a retractable conveyor mounted to and extending from the drive mechanism towards the plant, and a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm.

Abstract: A harvester for gathering product from one or more plants comprises a drive mechanism, a retractable conveyor mounted to and extending from the drive mechanism towards the plant, and a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm. The sealing arrangement includes a sealing member and sensor configured to engage the plants and provide input to the retractable conveyor so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the distal end of the retractable arm and the second object. As a result, a seal is formed and maintained between the first object and the second object.

Abstract: An aggressive, high capacity snapping roller is formed from a multiplicity of elongated narrow rails to define a cylindrical segmented roller having stronger, more rigid and more evenly spaced blades which are integral with each rail. Individual rails include an arcuate cross section wall defining segment and an integral, angled, uniformly sharpened blade. A single row of intermittently spaced welds joins each adjacent pair of rails together and allows a low friction, unobstructed channel between blades. A method for making the roller is also disclosed.

Abstract: An arrowhead (10) is shown in the most preferred form including first and second blades (12, 14), a ferrule (16), and a collar (18). The leading ends of the blades (12, 14) are interconnected by slideably interlocking the blades (12, 14) together in slots (54, 58) formed in the blades (12, 14). The trailing ends of the blades (12, 14) are held in slots (62, 64) formed in the collar (18). The ferrule (16) is rotatably received in U-shaped sockets (38) formed in the blades (12, 14) and through the collar (18) and is adjustable therewith by threads (66, 78) formed in the ferrule (16) and collar (18). By rotation of the ferrule (16) relative to the collar (18) and the blades (12, 14), an expansion force is placed on the blades (12, 14). The slots (62, 64) of the collar (18) have a size to flushly receive the trailing ends of the blades (12, 14). Further, the trailing end (60) of the collar (18) is tapered and complementary to locking edges (30, 32) formed on the trailing ends of the blades (12, 14).

Abstract: A self-cleaning support for a conveyor belt having a shaft with first and second ends and a longitudinal center capable of being adapted to rotate at each of the ends. The shaft is provided with a first flighting to convey material from a first point proximate the longitudinal center toward the first end and a second flight to convey material from a second point proximate the longitudinal center towards the second end, with the first and second points being spaced apart. Two annular members are mounted at the first and second points respectively both encircling the shaft and defining axial openings permitting material to pass through to their respective flights. These annular members may provide a guide for the underside of the belt by being spaced apart to receive the width of a belt guide.